Cedar River State Water Trail

A WATER TRAIL GUIDE TO THE CEDAR RIVER Iron Horse Prairie BLOOMING S.N.A. 2 2 24 PRAIRIE 16 20

STEELE CO. DODGE CO. 15 9 FREEBORN CO. MOWER CO. 56 34 218

Cr eek 36

30 WALTHAM 1 1 NEWRY 20 Mud

16 25 1 SARGEANT 105

Creek CEDAR

103 57 Deer 218 RIVER MAPLE ISLAND CORNING MAYVILLE 251 Roberts HOLLANDALE 36 25 Cr eek LANSING 20 CORNERS 2 25 2 34 LANSING BROWNSDALE 2 RENOVA 16 30 Hickory Lake 61 Wild Indigo Prairie S.N.A. 36 Ramsey Mill 19 Pond W.M.A. 104 ANDYVILLE 25 Wild Indigo Prairie S.N.A. Carex Ramsey Mill Pond Cr eek W.M.A. Murphy

RAMSEY 16 25 218 Creek Moscow Creek Wolf Ramsey Mill Pond 25 Portage (R) 125 Yds

Turtle 27 20 J.C. Hormel 56 Nature Center Dobbins 102 Creek 61

34 Austin Mill Pond NICOLVILLE 102 East 90 OAKLAND Schrafel 90 W.M.A. Side 90 HOLLANDALE Lake Mentel 46 46 AUSTIN JUNCTION Portage (L) 250 Yds W.M.A. 218 19 Roosevelt Bridge Creek 90 Driesner Park

15 3 3 30 Orchard 105 Cedar River A.M.A. Rose 28 28

river level development) trail (future gauge

Creek Route Description for the Cedar River RIVER

NOTE: (R) and (L) represent right and left banks of the river when facing downstream. Cedar River Riverwood Landing A.M.A. 25.0 County Road 2 bridge ROSE River VARCO 4 24-21.6 Ramsey Mill Pond W.M.A. 4 218 CREEK

Lyle-Austin W.M.A. Creek 22.0 Ramsey Mill Pond 4 Rose 4 21.6 Wild Indigo Prairie S.N.A. CEDAR10 Schottler W.M.A. 21.6 (R) Abandoned railroad trestle 19 Shooting Star State Trail 21.2 (R) Watercraft access above and below dam 21.2 Low head dam - Ramsey Mill Pond, portage river right 125 yards 21.1 County Road 25 bridge 56 Cedar 21.0 Railroad trestle 21-15 City of Austin 22 18.8 (R) Conﬂuence with Murphy Creek 18.4 (L) Conﬂuence with Wolf Creek 5 Creek 18.2 Highway 90/218 bridge Rose 5 5 W.M.A. 7 18.0 Main St N bridge Mud

17.5 (L) 4th Street NE bridge and trailer access Little 17.4 Footbridge 5 Red Cedar River W.M.A. Lena Larson 17.3 (R) Fishing pier W.M.A. 17.1 Foot bridge Lake 5 5 218 7 17.0 4th Ave NE bridge 105 17.0 (L) Dam - Austin Mill Pond, undeveloped portage river left 250 19 yards, take out upstream of 4th Avenue bridge and follow bike

trail around the dam until safe river access is possible Creek 16.9 2nd Ave NE bridge Otter 16.8 Oakland Pl SE bridge 16.5 (L) Driesner Park Carry-in access

. 6 6

16.5 (L) Conﬂuence with Dobbins Creek O 16.2 4th St SE bridge LYLE Carry-in Access Dam

ER C

16.2 Foot bridge W Trailer Access River Mile

15.9 Main St S bridge FREEBORN CO. MO 0 MINNESOTA 14.5 (R) Confluence with Turtle Creek WORTH CO. IOWA Park/Rest Area Designated Public Lands 13.4 County Road 28 bridge Drinking Water City Boundaries 13.4 River level gauge Fishing Pier W.M.A.= Wildlife Management Area 11.8 (L) Carry-in access MONA 11.5 (L) Confluence with Rose Creek Campground A.M.A.= Aquatic Management Area 10.4 County Road 4 bridge Markham’s Pond 7.9 (R) Confluence with Orchard Creek Creek Watercraft Campsite S.N.A.= Scientific and Natural Area 5.8 County Road 5 bridge Otter Historic Site Water Trail

5.2-4.4 Red Cedar W.M.A. .

O . State Trail 1.5 County Road 6 bridge O Otranto Dam 218 1.3 Railroad trestle OTRANTO 1.0 (R) Conﬂuence with Mud Lake Creek CHELL C

ORTH C

MIT 0.0 Minnesota/Iowa border W

MELTONVILLE NORTH STATE WATER TRAIL MAP A WATER TRAIL GUIDE TO THE CEDAR RIVER Cedar River

The Cedar River WMAs offer opportunities for wildlife watching avoiding activities that increase erosion along the ﬂotation device that state law requires be on river water is not recommended, but if you 14 and hunting. The Ramsey Mill Pond WMA contains riverbanks and by disposing of trash properly. board the boat for each person. do it must be treated. 218 a mix of wetlands, upland woods and established Wildlife er native prairie. The Red Cedar River WMA is mostly • Bring a ﬁrst aid kit that includeswaterproof • Respect private property. Stop only at bro Riv Zum oak woodland and the western edge borders the matches. designated sites; much of the shoreland is STEELE CO. DODGE CO. There are interesting and rare wildlife species river. private property. iver that can be seen on the Cedar River. Both of Blooming Prairie t R • Bring an extra paddle. oo Minnesota’s threatened turtle species, the wood MOWER CO. FREEBORN CO. There are also two units of the Cedar River

• Be sanitary! Use designated toilet

35 Aquatic Management Area (AMA) located south turtle and the Blanding’s turtle, are found in this • Be cautious of river obstructions, such as facilities or bury human waste away from of Austin. AMAs ensure that critical fish and river. Wood turtles prefer to nest in sandy, sunny overhanging and dead trees in the river. the river. 90 wildlife habitats will be conserved, non-boat public areas along the river, while Blanding’s turtles may Austin access to water resources will always be available, travel up to one mile away from water to lay their • You must pack out all trash. and habitat development on previously disturbed eggs. 90 Albert Lea City of Austin © Cedar River Watershed District areas can take place. Iowa River Along with • Leave only footprints; take only photographs! Cedar River 218 One of these AMA units is a wetland turtles, Sandhill The 25 miles of Cedar River Water Trail in Water levels can speed or slow you down. You restoration site created from former farmland. This cranes are another Minnesota are moderately flowing and easy to can get information about water levels from the Lyle site offers wildlife habitat, helps improve water common sight along MINNESOTA paddle from Lansing (just north of Austin) to the regional DNR office, the DNR website, or the IOWA quality and reduces soil erosion. the river banks. After Iowa border, and follows Highway 105 closely. In overexploitation in DNR Information Center. Remember that total, this river runs about 329 miles, from the the early 1900s, they much of the shorelands are privately owned. headwaters in Dodge County, Minnesota, to Louisa have made a steady Respect and protect the water and shorelands. County in southeast Iowa, where it joins the Iowa recovery in the state “The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources River. From there, it winds its way into the Boating Information of Minnesota. © Cedar River Watershed District is an Equal Opportunity Employer” Mississippi, as one of its major tributaries. The portion of this river that runs through Iowa is also a Plants and Trees • Register your watercraft. All watercraft Sustainable Ecosystems designated Water Trail. sandhill crane © MNDNR more than 9 feet in length, including The native tree nonmotorized canoes and kayaks, must be Outdoor recreation is dependent on a healthy Formerly known as the Red Cedar River, this species surrounding registered in Minnesota or your state of and attractive natural environment. Sustainable This information is available in alternative waterway was put to good economic use when this stretch are bur oak savanna, tallgrass prairie residence. outdoor recreation enables people to enjoy the format upon request. Austin first became established. The first saw and and maple basswood forest. The bur oak is mostly outdoors without negative impacts on the grist mills, built on the Cedar in 1854 and 1855 by on moraine ridges, the prairie on level or gently • Not all portions of this water trail are environment. Chauncey Leverich, supplied early settlers with rolling hills, while the maple and basswood are in © Cedar River Watershed District suitable for motor use. lumber. In 1891, George A. Hormel created the steep ravines or near streams. Hormel Foods Corporation. Today, Austin is Rest Areas and Camping Sites Communities working together can improve sometimes known as “Spam Town USA” because it This water trails offers a pleasantly wooded water resources by promoting environmentally Online water trail information and The Wild Indigo Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) is the birthplace of Hormel’s processed meat paddle for canoeists, and also flows through sensitive land use practices along rivers and maps can be found at is located along an abandoned Chicago-Milwaukee • Public rest areas are available along the mndnr.gov/watertrails product, Spam. agricultural land. The highest elevation in the area route to rest, picnic and explore. throughout watersheds. Railroad right-of-way, which gives it a strange is 1440 feet near Elkton, and the lowest point is at shape. Over 340 different, rare plants can be 1140 at the Iowa border. found here. Hiking from the Cedar River to the • Camp only in designated campsites, which Natural shoreline buffers improve water quality city of Dexter provides a fascinating view of these Planning A Safe River Trip are available on a first-come, first-served by filtering out pollutants and sediments. Healthy rare species. SNAs are protected areas, so please basis, unless otherwise noted. and diverse native shoreline plant communities are visit the area with care. A successful river trip is safe. To enjoy a safe attractive and provide important shoreline habitat DNR Information Center journey, you should be prepared by doing the • Bring drinking water. It is only available for birds and wildlife. The DNR’s Information Center is available to provide free Fishing following: at a limited number of rest areas. Drinking publications of facilities and services as well as answers questions pertaining to DNR recreational opportunities in Minnesota. There are good fishing opportunities on this • Get acquainted with your route. Plan your trip Natural stretch of river. Notable fishing spots include the 500 Lafayette Road with a map before you depart and advise Shorelands St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 At the historic mill © Cedar River Watershed District area around Austin for small mouth bass as well as 40% evaporation someone of your plans including planned 651-296-6157 Metro Area around Lansing, where there have been reports of 10% runoff 1-888-646-6367 MN Toll-Free departure and arrival times. northern pike. Walleye and bullheads also are 50% infiltration mndnr.gov The nearby J. C. Hormel Nature Center in present, but bass – especially small mouth and rock Altered Austin contains 507 acres of trails, woods and • Travel with a companion or group. Shorelands bass – are most commonly caught. 30% evaporation wildlife. One can find remnant and restored prairie, 55% runoff hardwood forest, wetlands and streams. Mussels and some rare fish species, such as the • Choose a distance that is comfortable for you, 15% infiltration Ozark minnow, are great indicators of water most people paddle two to three river miles per Two Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) – quality. They are very sensitive to increases in water hour. Ramsey Mill Pond and Red Cedar River– are Cover Photo: Cedar River Watershed District siltation and pollution, and cannot survive in highly © Cedar River Watershed District located between Lansing and the Iowa border. disturbed areas. You can help protect them by • Wear a U. S. Coast Guard approved personal © 2016 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources